Jobodwana No Certainty for McKenzie Stakes

Trainer Mick Price has been thrilled with the condition of Jobodwana in recent weeks but has revealed he is yet to decide if the three-year-old will contest Saturday’s Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley after drawing the outside gate.

Dale Smith will take the ride on Jobodwana should he contest the 2015 McKenzie Stakes. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell

Jobodwana had only contested one race prior to resuming this time, but stamped his claims as one to watch through the up-coming Spring Racing Carnival when delivering a quality field a comfortable defeat in the ParkerBrothers Earthmoving Maiden (1000m) first-up on August 6th.

Price told Racing Ahead he is yet to make a decision on whether or not the son of Congrats will take his position in the 2015 McKenzie Stakes on Saturday, but revealed he will allow other scratching to dictate a run.

“I think there’s one scratching, I think the one outside her came out,” Price said.

“I’m yet to figure out whether to run the horse or not, I might just check scratchings in the morning because I’m not sure if at eleven of eleven he needs to run from there.”

Should he choose to saddle Jobodwana in the McKenzie Stakes, Price is confident the three-year-old will not be out of his depth despite lining up alongside the likes of El Greco, Odyssey Moon and Manhattan Blues.

“If he does run he’s a go-forward horse but just a bit difficult from that gate to figure out what to do with him,” Price added.

“We’ll give ourselves today to chew it over and see what happens.”

Having clearly needed the professional hit-out when beating only two runners home in the Swettenham Stud Sprint (900m) on debut in March, Jobodwana jumped from the gates well in his racing return at Seymour on August 6th and was immediately settled in prime position on the heels of the races early leaders.

Offered a clear racing line upon arriving at the final straight, Jobodwana immediately responded when asked for an extra effort and pulled clear to secure the comfortably victory.

Ladbrokes.com.au is currently offering the best odds on all Moonee Valley races on Saturday including the McKenzie Stakes, for which Jobodwana can be taken at a quote of $51 for success.

Open an account and deposit $50 at Ladbrokes.com.au today with the unique code: BONUS150 to take advantage of a further $150 in bonuses!